County wins grasshopper and junior‑livestock grants; commissioners approve letter to Pacific Power on transmission project

County Manager Will and staff told commissioners June 25 that the county was awarded a $108,000 grant for grasshopper control and that a volunteer wrote a separate grant providing $25,000 for junior livestock pins at the fairgrounds.

The manager said county staff and partners will manage receipts and spending for the grasshopper grant and promised to use remaining funds for a full survey if any money remains. The junior livestock grant—awarded through a separate nonprofit grant process—will fund replacement livestock pens for youth and will require acceptance and grant documentation once finalized.

Separately, commissioners unanimously approved a motion directing staff to send a letter to Pacific Power raising concerns about the proposed Blueprint transmission project and requesting a community update in Powell Butte. The draft letter asks Pacific Power to address potential impacts to prime irrigated farmland, cultural and wildlife resources and to provide a presentation and Q&A for community members; three commissioners are listed as signatories.